I have found my most fruitful lents have been when I do a simple fast vs a complicated one.  (Think no sugar in my coffee vs no dairy).  Every time I’ve had “BIG” plans for lent that involved a huge sacrifice I’ve failed.  I’ve also found it more fruitful to work on saying my rosary slowly and contemplatively especially during lent vs my usual rushing.  I am drawn to big showy glittery plans, but am continually called to doing simpler things and doing them well. (I love the idea of fasting from dairy, praying 3 rosaries a day, plus a chaplet, attending daily Mass and sleeping and wearing a hair shirt (!) If someone can do this - more power to ‘em!)

a tradition in our home, has been a fast from the television.  parents on down to littlest children.  we do see that it has a positive affect on everyone’s prayer, and contemplative life.

as a family, we create a box, filled with both prayer offerings for others, and additional daily sacrafices or taking on of something more.

each evening we draw two items, one to pray for and one to practically do the next day.

I haven’t decided for certain, but I really enjoy reading the “variety”/comics section of the newspaper every day in the lunchroom at work -and often try to get to lunch early, before a co-worker grabs it.  So I think I may give that up and replace it with the Office of Readings while I eat my lunch.

I agree that often for me, simpler is better.  I also don’t usually talk with others about what I’m doing, unless there is a specific reason to do so.

Gosh Lisa, I thought YOU were already LIVING a prolonged Lent.  Thank you for all the sacrifices you’ve made and offered up for the good of others.  You’re probably way ahead of most of us in that department.

When sickness or early pregnancy morning sickness has hit me at Lent, I offer up that. Otherwise we change our offerings each year and especially try new ways to be kind/loving to a difficult member of the family.  God bless everyone this season.  May all our efforts, big and small , bear good fruit in our lives and others’ too.

I participate in 40 Days for Life. 40 days of prayer, fasting and vigil in front of Planned Parenthood - check for one near you http://www.40daysforlife.com

I think we all know where our trouble spots are.  One year, when we were flush with cash, I spent a good deal of my free time clothes shopping.  I gave that up for Lent and it was very difficult for me.  I didn’t do it so save $.  I did it because my self worth was dangling on a designer thread (no pun intended).  This year, I’m fasting from my favorite bad habit.  In fact, it’s so politically incorrect that I dare admit it in public.  But Jesus knows.

Thank you #6 for reminding me that simpler is sometimes better. I am really going to focus on doing the simple things better. Listening to my children more closely, serving my husband more humbly, praying with more concentration… Thanks!

I just finished a post on this very topic.  Our priest 8 years ago changed my idea of a Lenten sacrifice…

http://amysfinerthings.com/lenten-devotions

Last Ash Wednesday our priest commented that while most of us choose to give up something during Lent, that we should also consider adding something. He said for many adding a rosary to their day or going to adoration and thus adding more prayer or contemplation to our daily lives could be as fruitful as giving up alcohol or caffeine. He also reminded people that when you make a concerted effort to add to your spiritual life, you will in turn give something wordly up, whether you are concious of it or not.

He also made the point that lent is only six weeks and if you try to do too much (ie give up caffeine, sugar, AND salt) you will set yourself up to fail.

I have to say that was perhaps the most refreshing Ash Wednesday homily I had ever heard. It totally helped me start lent on the right foot.

I am always so thankful for Lent and I tend to be like many: wanting to just cut out all the bad stuff in a huge Lenten sacrifice time and then feeling guilty when I fail. So, I have learned over the years to just try to focus on some areas. The best I ever had was giving up gluttony and taking up moderation: no seconds at meals or snacks. While I hesitate to just list what I plan to do, it is along those lines—focusing on the big areas and seeing how I can apply those in daily life. For me this means “giving up” gluttony and slothfulness and taking up moderation and diligence. I ask God to open my eyes to how I can do this specifically, and then try to be obedient.

I have started doing something new for Lent (at least it is new for me!)  My desire is to change me for the better.  Whatever I do—I want to continue past Lent.  This year I am on a daily basis going to give up my computer until I have had my daily devotional time.  To some that might not seem like much but to me it is giving up what I want so much in exchange for something I really need.  I pray that this attitude will continue for a lifetime after Lent.

Lisa,
When I read about your conversation with your son, I had to smile. My 12-year-old son has decided to give up meat for Lent. Like you, I talked to him about the enormity of that choice. I’m a vegetarian so it doesn’t bother me, but I know how much he loves meat. It will require some real effort to find things he will eat. Still, I am humbled by his willingness to do something he knows will be difficult. He said, “It’s supposed to be a real sacrifice, right?” And so the parent is taught by the child.
I haven’t decided what I will give up, but I was awed by your choice to drink nothing but water for one Lent. No coffee. No red wine. That would be huge for me. Something to consider for sure.
Thanks for sharing with us. Hearing what other people do during Lent always inspires me.

In our house we observe the Sundays are not Lent rule. Somehow it is easier to give up something if you know you can indulge on Sunday.

Last year was my best Lent, I think. I can’t remember whether I gave my normal chocolate, but I did give up a lot of websites I spent too much time on (something I want to do this year, too, but I haven’t figured out which ones yet). I also, in an effort to actually take care of all *3* aspects of Lent, gave all my tips at work to charity, and tried to say a daily Rosary - that one I wasn’t as consistent on as I should have been. I’m going to try the Rosary again, give up chocolate and peanut butter and probably some websites, and I’m trying to figure out what I can do to *give* more. Any ideas?

I am giving up Facebook and am going to pray everytime the desire to go on it comes up (which happens a lot in my day). I figure a decade of the Roasry every time the urge his me or something like that.

My favorite fast is to give up my favorite addiction: buying stuff other than food and strictly necessary items. I’m a thrift store junkie and we have this incredible 25 cent rack at our Goodwill which has yielded many designer finds, so this will be more difficult than a food fast for me.
This year I’m also going to join our parish choir and faithfully attend practice—something I’ve been invited to do before but have always hung back from out of laziness. Last year in F&F;magazine I recommended trying one new parish activity for lent, so I’m actually going to try my own suggestion.